David Oyelowo Quotes
As you know, Sunday at 11 o'clock is the most segregated hour in America. You have black churches; you have white churches; you have Hispanic churches. It's not really reflective of the world we live in, by and large, in America.
Oyelowo, David. Interview. The Christian Post, The Christian Post Media Group, 8 Jan. 2015.
At the time he made this speech it was very radical. School segregation was not only legal but was required by law in the Southern states. This was a huge slap in the face of the South which had undermined the gains of Reconstruction. It did not however hurt his future political career in the North. At the time it was the Republicans who were the champions of desegregation and equality and most racists in the country were Democrats. One hundred years later, it was the other way around. Most racists affiliated with the Republican Party and it was the Democrats who advocated strong anti-discriminatory measures.
It is not desirable to See Samson Benderly for an earlier, similar view.
Shortly after WWII, he became the largest builder in the United States. See {634380} for more depth on his view about segregated housing.
Arkansas Governor Faubus ordered the national guard to prevent Black students from integrating Central High School in Little Rock. President Eisenhower was a man of action and not rhetoric and his lack of firm public statements overlooked an opportunity to use the Presidential “bully pulpit” and exercise his moral leadership and authority. Armstrong was irate at Eisenhower for appearing to do nothing and say nothing. See {615852}. When Eisenhower did enforce the court order and used Federal troops, Armstrong sent him this congratulatory telegram. His reference to walking into the schools was in support of many who suggested that the best thing the President could have done was to personally take one of the Black students by the hand and walk into the school with him or her. With the mood of the Southern racists, such an act was potentially very risky for the President and it is not known whether of not the President and his staff ever considered such an act.
This was actually a very courageous statement for an American politician running for national office. As a result of the pressure of this statement President Franklin Roosevelt allowed Black enlistment in the Army Air Forces.
The fact that God had created distinct races was sufficient for Fallwell and many other racist clerics to assume that this meant that they should not learn together in the same schoolroom—an interesting theological leap. It is ironic but religion has been one of the most positive forces helping to end slavery and legal discrimination in America. At the same time, religion has served as one of the must substantial justifications for slavery, racism and discrimination.
Bilbo was one of the worst racists who ever served in the Congress.
David Oyetokunbo Oyelowo OBE is a British actor and producer with dual British and American citizenship. His highest-profile role to date was as Martin Luther King Jr. in the 2014 biographical drama film Selma. He also took the lead role in A United Kingdom (2016) as well as playing the role of a chess coach in Queen of Katwe (2016). He has played supporting roles in the films Rise of the Planet of the Apes (2011), Lincoln (2012), Red Tails (2012), Jack Reacher (2012), and garnered praise for portraying Louis Gaines in The Butler (2013). On television, he played MI5 officer Danny Hunter on the British drama series Spooks (2002–2004) and Javert in the BBC miniseries Les Misérables (2018).
